Tipton, Pace both top $400,000 in third-quarter fund-raising

Colorado Republican Congressman Scott Tipton and his Democratic challenger, Sal Pace, both cracked $400,000 in the latest quarter of fund-raising for their tooth-and-nail race.

Pace’s campaign announced Tuesday it pulled in $407,000 in the third quarter — with 90 percent of its 2,237 individual donors living in Colorado. The campaign has raised more than $1.5 million in total so far, which it says is a record for a challenger in the 3rd.

“Our campaign clearly has the momentum as we enter the final stretch,” Pace said in a statement. “Coloradans are sick of the partisanship and gridlock in Congress. They want to send someone to Congress who will answer to the citizens of Colorado, not the party leaders in Washington.”

Pace’s haul, though, was topped by Tipton’s, who reported raising $483,000, according to campaign manager Michael Fortney. Fortney did not break out Tipton’s sum by local donors.

“We are going to keep working hard over the next three weeks,” Fortney wrote in an e-mail.

The fight for the 3rd CD, which stretches across western and southern Colorado, is among the most contentious battles in Colorado politics this year. Pace and Tipton have repeatedly tradedbarbs over ads this year, while also engaging in a number of fiery debates.

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.